The surface of PNF-404 holds plenty of treasures and surprises, but if you want to get all the good loot, you’ll have to venture underground. Subzero Sauna is a cold cave filled with obstacles and creatures. Do not fret, as with the right strategies, you can beat the cold.
This guide will explain how to 100% Subzero Sauna in Pikmin 4.
Where to find Subzero Sauna in Pikmin 4
Subzero Sauna is found in Serene Shores, and the entrance to the cave is located on the spot indicated on the map above. You’ll need to rescue two Castaways and collect five treasures to 100% complete it.
How to complete Subzero Sauna
There are three sublevels, and each of them will have you dealing with cold conditions.
Sublevel 1
In the area you arrive in, you’ll find some Hydro Jelly. There are also some Gold Nuggets, but they’re blocked by some kind of poisonous growth, making them inaccessible for now. Deal with the Hydro Jelly by throwing some Ice Pikmin at it, then use Oatchi to charge at it.
Next, head right and enter the room with a blue-tiled floor. In there, you’ll find two pieces of Hydro Jelly, two Nectar Eggs, and some Snowy Blowhogs. You can take the creatures down easily by chucking your Pikmin at them. Once the enemies are defeated you can retrieve treasure and resources from the Hydro Jelly.
Enter the room on the left, and you’ll find more enemies and Hydro Jelly. Kill the Snowy Blowhogs, and deal with the Hydro Jelly to reveal a Candypop Bud. Chuck some Pikmin at it, and you’ll get White Pikmin in return. Use your Blue Pikmin, as you’ll need the Ice Pikmin later.
White Pikmin are special because they are impervious to poison. Use them to destroy the poisonous mushrooms you saw earlier, and claim the Gold Nuggets. After that, you can head to the exit to begin the next sublevel.
Sublevel 2
This sublevel is freezing, causing your Pikmin to shiver. Ensure they stay warm by keeping them close to Oatchi. Some stalagmites can fall and crush any Pikmin beneath it.
To raise the temperature, you’ll need to destroy ice blocks. The first one is in the area you begin in. Next, enter the metal tunnel to your left. At the end of it, head left again and you’ll find a box that can be pushed. Instruct Oatchi to do so to form an easy shortcut back to your base. North of the box is a bucket with a Candypop Bud, throw some Red Pikmin at it and get some White Pikmin in exchange.
Leave that area and head to the right where you’ll find iron bars. You can pass through with your Pikmin, though you’ll have to leave Oatchi behind. Do so, and you’ll find a snowball-spitting creature that you can defeat by sending your Pikmin at it.
Head north, and there’s another snowball-spitting foe, as well as an Iceblown Dweevil that will try to take your treasure from you. Defeat them with your Pikmin. While you’re in that room, smash the Hydro Jelly in the bottom right corner to reveal the ice block beneath that should also be smashed. Next, head to the top right corner and use your White Pikmin to break the poison trap. There’s Hydro Jelly behind the poison trap, freeze it then break it to reveal some treasure for you to collect.
Now to deal with the pesky ice problem. Head to the left exit in the room. It’ll lead you to a ledge that is beside a frozen pool of water. Send your Pikmin over the ledge to destroy the ice block there. That’ll be enough to finally end the cold chill and melt all the pools in the sublevel.
In the pool of water next to the ledge, you’ll see a white button. Send your Blue Pikmin to press it, which will bring down all the iron bars, allowing you to retrieve any treasures that may have been trapped. Don’t forget to rescue the lost Castaway that was trapped in ice. You’ll have to freeze the pool of water again using your Blue Pikmin so that you can hop onto the ledge and head to the next sublevel.
Sublevel 3
The final sublevel has you taking on an Arctic Cannon Beetle. Like the Horned Cannon Beetle, it is huge but it doesn’t have too many tricks up its sleeves. Simply keep circling it and wait for it to blow out cold air. When it does, it’ll expose its vulnerable hind. This is your opportunity to send your Pikmin in to do damage. Quickly call them back when the wings go back down, then wait for your opportunity to strike again.
As you take on the beetle, watch out for falling stalactites that can kill your Pikmin. To make the battle easier, destroy the ice blocks and stalactites in the room, as that’ll raise the temperature. When the enemy is dead, loot its carcass, save the Castaway and grab the treasure sitting beside a piece of Hydro Jelly.
That should be enough to give you a satisfying 100% completion for Subzero Sauna. To go for a 100% completion of the whole game, you’ll have to do all the other caves, including Hectic Hollows.
